Judge of Probate Court - Non-Incumbent - 6 Year Terms
November 3, 2026 · Wayne County, Michigan · County · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 0 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 1,772,259 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(1,772,259 ÷ 1,772,259) ÷ ln(1,772,259 ÷ 2,133) = 0, comparing counties in MI (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
This office is responsible for:
- Hearing trials — criminal cases, lawsuits, family, or probate matters, depending on the court
- Ruling on evidence, motions, and sentences
- Applying state law and court procedure fairly in every case
Affected Areas: Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Civil Rights, Impartiality, Legal Competence
Candidates
Sarah Colegrove
Nonpartisan · declared
Sarah Colegrove is a Wayne County attorney with more than 30 years of legal experience, including a concentration in probate and estate law. Her practice has included civil litigation, mediation, arbitration, and neutral-party work for organizations including the U.S. Postal Service and Better Business Bureau. A Wayne Probate Court appointed her special fiduciary for the Estate of Joanna L. Hubbard, giving her responsibility for estate assets and related litigation. Colegrove was born in Detroit and is a lifelong Wayne County resident.
Records: Legal Competence 1 against, Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for
Suzanne Fanning
Nonpartisan · declared
Suzanne R. Fanning is an Ann Arbor attorney with more than 20 years of legal experience whose current practice focuses on probate law and probate litigation. Her work includes guardianships and conservatorships, fiduciary services, trust and will contests, estate planning and administration, mediation and arbitration, and protecting seniors from financial exploitation. She previously practiced as a general litigator and is a former co-chair of the Washtenaw County Bar Association's Probate and Estate Section. Fanning earned a law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 1996 and a bachelor's degree from the University of Bristol in 1991.
Records: Legal Competence 5 for
Vanessa M. Moss
Nonpartisan · declared
Vanessa Marie Moss is a Detroit attorney admitted to the Michigan bar in 2002. Her practice has included family law, probate, juvenile matters, and criminal defense. She previously worked as a judicial assistant at Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, served on the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Council, and has held community leadership roles with the YMCA Metro Youth Advocacy Board, Rho Sigma Foundation, and a school parent-teacher association. She earned a history degree from Wayne State University and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and co-hosts the Detroit in Black and White public-affairs podcast.
Records: Civil Rights 1 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Legal Competence 2 for
Election sources
Source: waynecountymi.gov
Source: waynecountymi.gov